Archive for Jun 25, 2009

Microsoft have announced official pricing for Windows 7, their next-gen OS which will arrive on October 22nd. Both upgrade and full prices have been revealed, the latter being $199.99 for Windows 7 Home Premium, $299.99 for Windows 7 Professional, and $319.99 for Windows 7 Ultimate.

HP have announced a new range of consumer desktop PCs, together with an update to their MediaSmart Server software for TouchSmart PCs. Slimline, Pavilion and Elite desktops have all been announced, together with a new Compaq Presario desktop. In addition, HP have announced that select consumer PCs bought from today onwards will be eligible for their Windows 7 Upgrade Program.

Panasonic have released a firmware update for its digital camera range that blocks the use of third-party batteries. The update, which is now available for sixteen cameras in Panasonic's range, addresses "imitation" batteries that the company suggests "do not meet the rigid safety standards Panasonic uses".

Samsung may have managed to get several models from Sharp's TV and monitor ranges banned from import into the US, after convincing the U.S. International Trade Commission that the products infringe one of its patents. The IP refers to LCD display technology, with sets from Sharp's Aquos range of HDTVs named as potentially in violation.

We've already seen what's going on inside the iPhone 3GS, now courtesy of iSuppli we know roughly how much it all costs. The analysts have been picking through the iPhone 3GS' components and have deemed that Apple's handset costs $178.96 to produce in its 16GB form.

Celio are looking to broaden support for their REDFLY smartphone companion device, tipping compatibility with RIM's handsets and potentially Google's smartphone platform. The company is apparently looking into developing BlackBerry support for the REDFLY devices by the end of 2009, with Android likely to be the next candidate after that.

Palm have notched up one-million downloads from their App Catalog just eighteen days into the public availability of the Pre. The figures, which have been collated by analyst Medialets rather than from Palm themselves, suggest that the estimated 150,000 Pre users have each downloaded 6-7 apps each.

Industrious hackers have managed to get Google's Android OS to run on the Omnia i900, the first-gen Windows Mobile phone from Samsung. The project currently loads Android from a microSD card, and in its early stages can't access the majority of the Omnia's hardware; that means no calls and no using the 5-megapixel autofocus camera.

Gateway have rolled out two new small-form-factor (SFF) desktop PC ranges, its SX Series and DX Series, offering a choice of AMD or Intel processors, HDMI connectivity and compact desk footprints. The first SX model is the Gateway SX2800-01, a Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz desktop with integrated GMA X4500 graphics, 4GB of DDR memory, 640GB hard-drive and a DVD burner.

Sony Ericsson have announced a new entry-level cellphone, the T715, offering 3G connectivity, a 2.2-inch 240 x 320 LCD display and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The handset differs from the usual run-of-the-mill consumer device by adding Exchange ActiveSync support to the normal IM, MMS and SMS messaging; it also comes loaded with Google Maps.

LG have unveiled two new "full LED" HDTVs, each with 55-inch LCD panels and 240Hz refresh rates. The LG 55LH95 and LG 55LH93 both use 3,360 individual LEDs and boast a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1; the company's backlighting technology can individually control 240 sections of the display, dimming or brightening as suits the image on-screen.

According to an unnamed phoneArena tipster, Verizon have confirmed that they will be offering the CDMA version of Samsung's Omnia II this July. The source is seemingly Verizon's customer services, who revealed that the touchscreen AMOLED Windows Mobile phone will be dropping just next month.